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Thank you, Sharifa.

Comments are much appreciated.

When in Kruger, you want to get the most out of your trip, hence a bit of rest post the morning drive will not last long before your mind starts telling you, you are in Kruger and need to be out there in the wild, not in the camp. Well, that is what I am experiencing, especially when you have travelled more than 1160 miles, made a noticeable cash investment and waiting for this time for a full year .

Here I go again, just after midday and this time on a short solo drive taking the S100 to see if this road will present me with the abundance of activity as others had experienced and what the camp's sightings board was indicating. The drive was extremely quiet and with permission, actually 'boaring', with no activity except for some birdies. No leopards, no lion, no elephant, nothing at all, only birds. It is amazing to watch these Red-headed queleas how they fly and not one crashing into another...



In the trees next to the N'wanetsi river I spotted the only Brown-hooded kingfisher of our trip


After an hour I was back in camp to pick up the family and went down the S90 tar road direction Sweni hide. At one stage, we spotted about 9 giraffe scattered around us at both sides of the road, a few zebra, wildebeest and here and there ellies. Close to Sweni hide these two waterbuck were ready to pose for us - the youngster and then the older one - I like those beautiful long horns



The hide was quiet with an elderly couple sitting there reading there books and now and then took there binoculars when they thought they have spotted something. The only activity we have had was some more Red-headed queleas coming down to drink on the opposite bank.


Where there is water, one can expect these guys...


As we walked out of the hide, this Blue waxbill, was busy building a nest and I managed to get a better shot as the one I got at Lake Panic.


This Tawny-flanked prinia also caught our eyes at the hide..


As it was time to head back to camp we did a quick look at what is happening at the Sweni waterhole on the S126, but on our way we had been watched - yes, traffic police was sitting next to the road and can say we were good tourist as we were driving very slowly. At the Sweni waterhole there was also nothing going on and at that note we went back to camp to get ready for a braai.

The next day, we were on our way to Mopani for 2 days. Yippie! - another favourite camp of mine with lost of intersteing sightings coming up.. yes including our only snake encounter and scary looking fish , lots of birds and lots more etc...

I think the Queleas are the most amazing birds. Its like watching a shoal of fish in the air. Again, lovely such a pleasure to start my day to this.

Kaapsedraai,

Absolutely stunning. ...your pics are always so crisp and clear...love them all.

Thanks so muc Kaapsedraai,

really love your birdies especially the red-headed queleas

Meandering Mouse, Trrp-trrrrrrrr, Pumbaa - thank you again for comments.
It is much appreciated.

Next, we are leaving Stara for Mopani, but along the way, we got some good sightings.

Beautiful quellias kaapsedraai as for the vultures ja they are definitely not the prettiest but lol you got admit the Maribou still takes the cake lol

It is 21 Des'12 and day 9 in Kruger which meant we were now into the second half of our trip...not a good thought , but the next half will also be very exciting. Like the previous morning, we were greeted by the beautiful sunrise and enjoyed some general game with these sebra reflecting some of the early sunrise colours.


The leopard of the previous day was gone, as we headed for Olifants camp to enjoy early morning breakfast whilst enjoying the beautiful view over the Olifants river from the restaurant.


Then we took the S93 towards Letaba to have a view of the Von Williegh's baobab and see if we could see some leopard. Last year we came from Letaba and enjoyed this magnificent view of a giraffe in the middle of the road trying to reach for some baobab leaves. It was a very unique setting with both a leadwood tree on the one side, Von Willieghs boabab on the other and giraffe in the middle.



As we did not spot any leopard, we enjoyed some other sightings like these Red-billed oxpeckers sitting on the zebra and impalas.



We arrived at Letaba to stretch legs after which we headed along the H1-6 to Mopani camp, but this hippo was walking over the white sand in the Letaba river forcing us to stop for a photo.


The road was relatively quite and we decided to check out a few of our favourite spots first before booking in namely Mooiplaas, Shipandani and Pionier dam hides. We arrived at Mopani and booked into FF6V which had an equisite view over the Pionier dam.


An observation regarding the different camps we had is that all the camps got beautiful entrances except for Satara. Perhaps something will be done about it. Nevertheless, Mopani is a beautiful camp and we were having a great time here with my first sighting of those long green creepy crawlies which I will share next as well as some others....warning, some creepy images to be share in next posting, .....to be continued.

Kaapsedraai.. your giraffe and baobab picture is just and I smiled so widely at the impies and oxpeckers.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Kaapsedraai,

Early morning drive up to Mopani all Stunning.... All making me more homesick than ever. ...Mopani entrance sigh....wish I was there.

Stunning TR and Pics, Kaapsedraai for sharing

Love the little Red-billed Oxpeckers

Wow Kaapsedraai! I've just caught up from page 7, and boy oh boy, did you have some beautiful sightings with awesome pictures too!

I cannot comment on all of them now, I have a lot of catching up to do. Just know that I still enjoy each and every episode and picture in your trip report!

Kaapsedraai,

Wow what a story! Well i can't wait to read what happened the rest of your trip.

My wife and i are going to the Kruger in May 2013, we are going for 11 nights. We are so excited as we counting the days!

another great couple of episodes....and I agree with you, how can you stay in camp when you have waited a year to be exactly where you are so close too.....the bush and its inhabiants... bliss

John

Love the two scenic pictures - the one of the elephants in the river, and the giraffe picking leaves - just so beautiful and so Kruger!